Can dogs watch TV? See the screen through pet eyes
Dogs look at the same screen you do, but their eyes catch flicker about 1.3 times faster than yours. So an old tube TV that looks steady to you can look flickery to a dog. Pick your pet and a screen to see what changes.
A simulation made from published eye studies. Not what the animal feels.
Try it
An old flickery tube TV that looks smooth to you can look flickery to a dog: its eyes catch flicker about 1.3 times faster than yours.
The flicker here is slowed right down and softened: the real one is far too fast to show safely. It stops if your device asks for reduced motion.
Modern flat screens work differently from old tube TVs. We have no measurements of how pets see them, so we make no flicker claim for them.
Pet by pet: old tube TVs
- Dog: An old flickery tube TV that looks smooth to you can look flickery to a dog: its eyes catch flicker about 1.3 times faster than yours.
- Cat: An old flickery tube TV that looks smooth to you can look flickery to a cat: its eyes catch flicker about 1.3 times faster than yours.
- Budgerigar: An old flickery tube TV that looks smooth to you can look flickery to a budgerigar: its eyes catch flicker about 1.2 times faster than yours.
- Goldfish: A goldfish's eyes catch flicker more slowly than yours, so an old tube TV that looks steady to you looks steady to it too.
- Rabbit: A rabbit's eyes catch flicker more slowly than yours, so an old tube TV that looks steady to you looks steady to it too.
- Guinea pig: A guinea pig's eyes catch flicker more slowly than yours, so an old tube TV that looks steady to you looks steady to it too.
- Brown rat: A brown rat's eyes catch flicker more slowly than yours, so an old tube TV that looks steady to you looks steady to it too.
- Chicken: An old flickery tube TV that looks smooth to you can look flickery to a chicken: its eyes catch flicker about 1.7 times faster than yours.
- Rock pigeon: An old flickery tube TV that looks smooth to you can look flickery to a rock pigeon: its eyes catch flicker about 1.5 times faster than yours.
What about modern TVs?
Modern flat screens work differently from old tube TVs. We have no measurements of how pets see them, so we make no flicker claim for them.
Do dogs see TV in colour?
Yes, but fewer colours than you. Sees mostly blues and yellows. Red and green look alike.
More to try
- See your own photo through animal eyes
- Play today's Guess the Eye
- Higher or lower: the animal eyes game
- Best dog toy colours
- Your Halloween costume through pet eyes
- World Animal Day 2026